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Criterion Channel vs Uscreen

Criterion Channel logo

Criterion Channel

Entertainment

Criterion Collection curated films

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Uscreen logo

Uscreen

Video Production

Membership video platform with branded mobile and TV apps for independent creators

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Criterion Channel maximum streaming quality is HD, no 4K or Ultra HD; Uscreen the per-subscriber fee means the bill grows with the audience, so a creator with several thousand members pays far more in subscriber charges than in plan fees, and the published plan price badly understates the real monthly cost.
  • They diverge on capability: Criterion Channel covers Criterion films, Uscreen covers Branded apps.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Criterion Channel and Uscreen actually diverge.

Attributes where Criterion Channel and Uscreen differ
AttributeCriterion ChannelUscreen
Starting price$10.99/month$49/month
Pricing modelUnknownPer month plus a per-subscriber fee
PlatformsWeb, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV, XboxWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV
CategoryEntertainmentVideo Production
Founded1984Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Criterion Channel

  • Criterion films
  • 4K restoration
  • Essays
  • Special features
  • Curated selections
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security

Only in Uscreen

  • Branded apps
  • Membership paywall
  • Live streaming
  • Community
  • Marketing site
  • Email and automation
  • Analytics
  • App store submission

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Criterion Channel

  • Streaming classic, foreign, and independent films with curated collections and retrospectivesnot Uscreen
  • Watching filmmaker interviews, commentary tracks, and bonus/supplemental contentnot Uscreen
  • Following themed programming such as double features and director/actor spotlightsnot Uscreen
  • Educational and film-study use due to curated context and extrasnot Uscreen

Uscreen

  • A fitness or yoga instructor with a paying membership who needs an Apple TV and Roku app because members watch on a television, not a laptop.not Criterion Channel
  • A niche documentary or enthusiast channel moving off advertising revenue to a direct subscription because the platform algorithm stopped delivering.not Criterion Channel
  • A dance or martial arts studio selling on-demand classes plus scheduled live sessions to the same members under one login.not Criterion Channel
  • A faith organisation or membership body distributing recorded talks to a paying congregation with its own branded app rather than a public video channel.not Criterion Channel

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Criterion Channel

  • Maximum streaming quality is HD, no 4K or Ultra HD
  • No PlayStation 4 app available
  • HDCP compatibility issues reported on some devices like Chromebooks and Xbox One
  • No live chat or phone support for customer service
  • Limited library compared to mainstream services like Netflix and Hulu

Uscreen

  • The per-subscriber fee means the bill grows with the audience, so a creator with several thousand members pays far more in subscriber charges than in plan fees, and the published plan price badly understates the real monthly cost.
  • Video storage is capped in hours, 20 on Starter and 100 above it, which a creator with a large back catalogue exhausts quickly and then pays to extend.
  • Branded apps only appear on the 449 dollar plan and above, so the tier that makes the product distinct from a generic video host is out of reach for a small membership.
  • One-off sales carry a transaction fee of 10 per cent on Starter and 5 per cent on higher plans, on top of payment processing, which materially changes the maths for creators selling courses rather than subscriptions.
  • PSG Equity took a majority investment in 2025, so the platform whose revenue already scales with your subscriber count is now controlled by an investor with a return horizon, and pricing structure changes should be planned for rather than assumed away.

Pricing, plan by plan

Criterion Channel

$10.99/month
  • Monthly$10.99/month
  • Annual$99.99/year

Uscreen

$49/month
  • Starter$49/month
    • Up to 100 subscribers
    • 20 hours of video storage
    • 1 admin seat
  • Growth$149/month
    • Unlimited subscribers
    • 1.99 USD per subscriber per month
    • 100 hours of video storage
  • App Essentials$449/month
    • Unlimited subscribers
    • 0.99 USD per subscriber per month
    • Two branded mobile apps for iOS and Android
  • Custom$undefined/month
    • 0.99 USD per subscriber per month
    • Five TV apps
    • Community features

Which should you pick?

Choose Criterion Channel if

  • You need criterion films.
  • You work on Web, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox.
  • You also want 4k restoration.
Criterion Channel review

Choose Uscreen if

  • You need branded apps.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV.
  • You also want membership paywall.
Uscreen review

Questions people ask

Is Criterion Channel or Uscreen better?
Neither clearly leads. Criterion Channel starts at $10.99/month and Uscreen at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Criterion Channel or Uscreen?
Criterion Channel starts at $10.99/month and Uscreen at $49/month.
Does Criterion Channel or Uscreen run on more platforms?
Criterion Channel runs on Web, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox. Uscreen runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV.
What is Criterion Channel best used for?
Criterion Channel is most often used for streaming classic, foreign, and independent films with curated collections and retrospectives, watching filmmaker interviews, commentary tracks, and bonus/supplemental content, following themed programming such as double features and director/actor spotlights, educational and film-study use due to curated context and extras. Of those, streaming classic, foreign, and independent films with curated collections and retrospectives and watching filmmaker interviews, commentary tracks, and bonus/supplemental content are not what Uscreen is typically brought in for.
What can Criterion Channel do that Uscreen cannot?
Criterion Channel covers Criterion films, 4K restoration, Essays, Special features. Uscreen covers Branded apps, Membership paywall, Live streaming, Community.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Criterion Channel: Can I watch Criterion Channel offline?

No, Criterion Channel requires an active internet connection for streaming. The service does not offer offline viewing or download capabilities.

Source
Uscreen: What does Uscreen actually cost per month?

The plan price plus a per-subscriber fee: 1.99 US dollars per subscriber on Growth, 0.99 on App Essentials and Custom. Budget on your member count, not the tier.

Criterion Channel: What devices does Criterion Channel work on?

Criterion Channel works on Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, and Xbox. There is no PlayStation app or dedicated mobile app for iOS/Android.

Source
Uscreen: Do I get real apps in the app stores?

Yes, branded apps published under your own name, with Uscreen handling submission. They start on the App Essentials plan at 449 US dollars per month.

Criterion Channel: How much does Criterion Channel cost?

Criterion Channel costs $10.99/month or $99.99/year with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers.

Source
Uscreen: Is there a storage limit?

Yes, 20 hours on Starter and 100 hours on Growth and App Essentials, with more available on request.

Criterion Channel: What is the maximum video quality on Criterion Channel?

Criterion Channel streams in HD quality only. The service does not offer 4K or Ultra HD resolution.

Source
Uscreen: Is there a transaction fee?

Yes on one-off sales: 10 per cent on Starter, 5 per cent on higher plans, separate from payment processing charges.

Uscreen: Who owns Uscreen?

PSG Equity took a 150 million dollar majority investment in 2025, so it is private-equity controlled.

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